[CPProt.net] Last Supper Artwork Stolen From Church

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Last Supper Artwork Stolen From Church

POSTED: 4:52 pm EST February 23, 2005
UPDATED: 5:32 pm EST February 23, 2005

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. -- Police are investigating the theft of a picture from a
Cumberland County church.
  
 
A piece of art depicting the last supper of Jesus Christ that hung in the
lobby of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mechanicsburg is missing.

"You want to feel, just based on faith, you can leave the doors of a church
open so that people can pray and worship as they see fit," parish manager
Bill Reilly said. 

But leaders at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mechanicsburg have lost some of
that faith after they said they were robbed.

An empty space is where artwork depicting the last supper of Jesus Christ
used to hang. The church noticed it was gone 11 days ago.

"It was not fastened to the wall. It was just on a hanger, so somebody could
come in there in 30 seconds, pick it off the wall and be gone," Reilly said.

The picture was a gift from one of the church's 6,000 parishioners eight
years ago.

It's made of mother-of-pearl, with an estimated value between $2,000 and
$3,000.

Church officials suspect it happened on the one day of the week when St.
Joseph's is unlocked and unattended, which means the thief could have come
right in.

It is possible one of their own parishioners is responsible.

"We have no reason to believe that, but we have no reason not to believe it
either," Reilly said.

St. Joseph's is now rethinking when to leave the church open to the public.

"That's very unfortunate. In today's society, I guess that's where we are,"
Reilly said.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church is working with Mechanicsburg police to solve
the case.

Detectives have no leads, but if you do, you're urged to call the church or
Mechanicsburg police.

http://www.thewgalchannel.com/